All the key news in fleet from the last week…

Drivers caught speeding excessively will now face higher under new sentencing guidelines.

Stricter fines for speeding drivers kick in

Drivers in England and Wales caught speeding excessively will now face higher under new sentencing guidelines.

The new guidelines – introduced following consultation – introduce a new higher penalty – ‘Band C’ – which means that fines for convicted motorists will start from 150% of their weekly income rather than the existing level of 100%.

For more details, click here.

Changes would have introduced 15 new bandings, of which 11 would have been for ULEVs.

Finance Bill shelves ULEV BiK changes

Forthcoming changes to Benefit-in-Kind tax for ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) have been put on hold in advance of the election.

Changes would have introduced 15 new bandings, of which 11 would have been for ULEVs.

Previously published as part of draft legislation for Finance Bill 2017, the changes were due to take place from 2020/21 and would have introduced 15 new bandings, of which 11 would have been for ULEVs.

For more details, click here.

The solution provides access to Royal Mail Fleet’s 110-strong workshop network.

ARI and Royal Mail Fleet develop solution for critical operational fleets

Fleet management specialist ARI and Royal Mail Fleet have formed a strategic co-operation to help fleets maximise compliance and minimise downtime.

The solution combines ARI’s dedicated professionals and its fleet management technology with Royal Mail Fleet’s 110-strong workshop network, and is aimed at providing transparency, flexibility and control for critical operational fleets.

For more details, click here.

300 rapid charge points will be deployed in the capital by 2020.

£18m scheme to deploy 300 rapid charge points in London

Transport for London (TfL) has taken the first steps in a new scheme that will see 300 rapid charge points deployed in the capital by 2020.

The £18m project, intended to provide an extensive rapid charging network that will incentivise drivers to switch to electric cars, will see the first stations operational within the coming months.

For more details, click here.

EU member states will have to share information on drivers relating to traffic offences.

Prepare now for cross-border enforcement, says motoring law specialist

Fleets are being urged to make sure they’re ready for a new law next month that means EU member states have to share information on drivers relating to traffic offences.

On 6 May the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 come into force. They require the DVLA to provide details of the registered keeper of vehicles (including personal details if an individual) alleged to have been involved in certain motoring offences across the EU; including failure to stop, using a mobile phone whilst driving, and speeding.

For more details, click here.

Ken Trinder started his career in the motor industry in 1992.

Industry mourns loss of Ken Trinder 

Well-known industry figure Ken Trinder has passed away at the age of 67 following a short battle with cancer.

Trinder was widely known for his work with a number of companies and started his career in the motor industry in 1992 when he joined Evans, moving on to become managing director of Evan Halshaw Contract Hire.

For more details, click here.

The research found that franchised workshops have an average UK labour rate of £99.

Franchised garage labour rates 43% higher than independents

Fleets using franchised garages will pay on average 43% more for labour rates compared to using independent workshops.

The research by automotive service and repair start-up motoreasy found that franchised workshops have an average UK labour rate of £99 compared with an independent garage average of £56.

For more details, click here.

The nationwide mobile service programme will provide a range of SMR work.

Ford rolls out mobile service programme

Ford is launching a nationwide mobile service programme, providing a range of SMR work.

Introduced following a successful trial around Greater London, the Ford Mobile Service programme will operate over 100 Ford Mobile Service vans with Ford qualified technicians from more than 90 Ford Transit Centres across the country, including Northern Ireland and Scotland. It will also be implemented at some service centres.

For more details, click here.

The EST is looking for fleets using the latest innovations to cut emissions.

Fleet Heroes begins search for green innovation

The Energy Saving Trust is once again looking for fleets using the latest innovations to cut emissions for this year’s Fleet Hero Awards.

Taking place on 9 November 2017 at the Museum of London Docklands along with the Fleet Hero Conference, the awards will see nine accolades presented this year and will be preceded by the conference, which will cover the latest developments in fleet sustainability, air quality management, low-emission vehicles and more.

For more details, click here.

Fleets of driverless vehicles are to be trialled on UK roads and motorways in 2019.

Driverless vehicle trials to take to roads

Fleets of driverless vehicles are to be trialled on UK roads and motorways in 2019 with the help of a latest round of government funding.

As announced by Business Secretary Greg Clark, the Government is investing £38m into research for connected and autonomous vehicles as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, with two separate consortia to use their funding for 2019 trials.

For more details, click here.For the latest industry news click here.